James jones elliott



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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.'

JAMES JONES ELLIOTT, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

CHlMlNG-CLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent N0. 496,870, dated May 9,1893. Application iiled March 25, 1892. Serial No. 426,462. (No model.)

'To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES JONES ELLIOTT, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, residing at London, England, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Olocks, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to chiming clocks, or those in which heretofore aseries of bells, gongs, or tubes has been employed in connection withthe strikin g mechanism. Instead of employing bells, gongs, tubes orwire free at one end, such as coiled wires, I employ stretched Wiresfixed at both ends. The hammers of the clock being suitably arranged tosound them to give the desired note. By employing strained wires fixedat both ends, I obviate the objectionable over-tones heretofore incidentto the use of bells, gongs, &c. These over-tones or harmonics are soprominent in bells, gongs or tubes thatit has been found almostimpossible to produce a perfect oct-ave, and so, to a musical ear, theyare very objectionable. While, of course, there are over-tones presentwhen strained wires are employed, yet they are so reduced as to be freefrom harshness andobjectionable discord. I obtain the requisite volumeof sound by a series of wires, and there is less strain on the mechanismthan heretofore encountered, in consequence of less weight beingnecessary to produce the same volume of tone, and the wear and tear onthe works of the clock are greatly reduced. I arrange the wires in setsor groups and secure them on a frame having bridges and tightening pins.This frame is arranged in the clock case in such manner as to hold thewires in a vertical position. The tightening pins are arranged withinconvenient reach of the operator in tuning the chimes. The hammers ofthe clock are arranged on horizontal pivots, from which they depend, andare operated by the pin-barrel, which is part of the chiming train ofthe clock.

I The details of the best way of carrying out my invention will behereinafter more fully described.

In the accompanying drawings,-Figure l is a vertical section of part ofaclock embodying my invention on the line c-zr of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is avertical section on the line y-y of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an elevation ofpart of the chiming mechanism, on an enlarged scale, and Fig. 4 is asection on the line z-.Z of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, A, indicates the clock case, and O, indicates a framesecured to the back B, of the case. This frame is provided with bridgesO. over which the wires D, extend. The wires are secured at each end totightening pins D. As shown, the wires are arranged in groups or sets.The drawings show a series composed mainly of sets or groups of threewires. All the wires in each set orgroup are adapted to be struck byasingle hammer and give the same tone. By this arrangement, a muchbet-ter toneis obtained.

The frame carrying the wires is adapted to be arranged vertically in theclock case, and to be secured to the back thereof, in rear of thependulum weights and the works. The shaft K, on the striking side of theclockworks, carries a gear-wheel J, meshing with teeth H2, on a cylinderH, carrying pins H. At each quarter of the hour or other pre-determinedinterval, the cylinder is actuated, as is usual in chirning clocks. Thehammers E, are secured to arms F, of bell-crank levers pivoted onhorizontal pivots F. Rods F2, are pivotally connected with the shorterarms of the bell-crank levers, and, at their upper ends, are secured tosprings G, fixed to the clock case, or to the case or frame of theclock-works. It will be observed that the hammers are located below thepin-barrel or cylinder and below the clock-works. The pins H are adaptedto engage with the springs in such manner as to depress the rods F2, andto deiiect the hammers to cause them to recede from the wires. When thepins have passed the ends of the springs, the hammers are returned togive a quick, sharp blow to the wires to sound the notes. By thevertical arrangement, I can employ a large number of wires in theclock-case, and make them of the requisite length to give the desirednotes, and the wires, by this vertical arrangement, being arranged sideby side, the hammers may be placed close together and in convenientposition to be operated upon by their actuating mechanism.

I .claim as my in vention n l. The combination, substantially ashereinbefore set forth, of a clock case, a frame IOC secured within theclock case, a series of strained wires xed at both ends to the frame andarranged vertically thereon, a series of hammers Within the clock case,and mechanism operated by the clock works to actuate the hammers tostrike the hours and quarter hours upon the strained wires.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a clockcase, a frame secured therein and having bridges at its upper and lowerends, a series of sets or groups of wires arranged vertically on saidframe, a series of hammers, each of which is adapted to strike all thewires in each group or set, and mechanism operated by the clock works toactuate the hammers.

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a clockcase, a frame having bridges at its upper and lower ends and secured tothe back of the clock case, strained wires iiXed at both ends andarranged vertically on the frame, a series of hammers carried by bellcrank levers mounted on horizontal pivots, a revolving pin barreloperated by the clock works at pre-determined intervals of time, andconnections between the pin barrel and the bell crank levers.

4. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a clockcase, a frame secured within the clock case, and having bridges at itsupper and lower ends, strained Wires fixed at both ends arrangedvertically on the frame, a series of hammers mounted on horizontalpivots from which they depend, and connections between the hammers andthe clock works.

5. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of aclock-case, a frame having bridges at its upper and lower ends andsecured to the back of the clock-case, strained wires xed at both ends,arranged vertically on the frame, the clock-hammers carried bybell-crank levers mounted on horizontal pivots, a series of springs G,rods connecting the springs with the bell-crank levers, and a chimingclock, the barrel or cylinder of which engages with the springs whichactuate the hammers.

JAMES JONES ELLIOTT.

T.. F. BARNEs, 17 Gracechurch Street, London, E. O'.

